Congress demands the dismissal of the Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra

The Congress on Wednesday demanded the dismissal of the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra for sponsoring atrocities against the dalits. The party also took strong exception to certain remarks made by Union Home Minister Inderjit Gupta against Chhagan Bhujbal, the Maharashtra Congress leader. The Congress indicated that the remarks had undermined the gravity of the caste war "that was unleashed by communal forces in Maharashtra."

According to a resolution adopted at a hurriedly convened Congress Parliamentary Party executive meeting, the party demanded the dismissal of the Maharashtra government and the imposition of President's rule.

Earlier, Congress members staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha when they were denied permission to seek a clarification from the home minister for his remark. Gupta said he had heard certain reports of Bhujbal's links with the underworld.

CPP Secretary Prithviraj Chavan said it was surprising that Home Minister Gupta had trusted the version provided by Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray.

Describing Thackeray as an extraconstitutional authority, Chavan pointed out that the Sena leader had justified the police firing on the dalits which left 10 people dead. While Gupta spoke of Thackeray's assurance that the situation would be controlled, no such commitment had come from state Chief Minister Manohar Joshi.

Chavan said the incidents in the last ten days revealed that the Maharashtra government had launched "State-sponsored atrocities against the dalits. "The dalit population is traumatised, insecure and threatened. In places like Vidarbha, they are migrating to safer places," he claimed.

UNI

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